Letters to the Editor for May 10, 2015

Published 3:43 am, Monday, May 11, 2015

First of all, I was born in Midland in 1945 at the Western Clinic Hospital on Colorado Street. I have lived in Midland most of my life except for the military.

My son recently purchased for me Jimmy Patterson’s book, “A History of Character: The Story of Midland, Texas.” I applaud Jimmy on his book. As I remember the history of Midland, it is accurate as I remember.

The things that stand out in my mind as a kid was J.B. McCoy and the Palace Drug, Oley Stice and Cash and Carry Grocery. I remember going to movies at the Rex, Tower and Ritz. I have to mention a very large man with a heart of gold, George Duvall. My favorite place was Friday’s Boot Shop and my favorite people who were my friends for life, Bob Hick of KWEL Radio and Newie Ellis of Ellis Funeral Home. If kids today had these men as counselors and advisors, we would be a better world. J.B. McCoy was like a father and spent many hours helping me with life.

A recent letter by Pat Schneider stated there was no baseball team in the 1950s. Well, from 1947 to 1954 we had the Midland Indians of the Longhorn League. Now if my memory is correct, we were the Longhorn League Champion in 1952 and 1953. The teams were the Carlsbad Potashers, Hobbs Sports, Big Spring Cosden Cops, Odessa Eagles, Roswell Rockets, San Angelo Colts and the Artesia Drillers. In 1955-56 the New Mexico-Texas League formed and the Albuquerque Dukes played the Midland Braves, and Jess Priest was the rocketball pitcher for the Dukes. Jess later became a DPS Officer, a Texas Ranger and investigator for former Midland County Attorney Mark Dettman. Jess is in the Dukes Hall of Fame in New Mexico, and before his death, my wife, Linda and I took Jess the Book of the HOF Albuquerque Dukes.

Pat, there was baseball at the Old Pagoda Park, and there was always cold beer from Connor’s Grocery, and Ranch House restaurant was the best.

Dennis Wallace

Police officers serve at great risk to their lives

I am so tired of hearing people in Midland and Odessa judge our police force and playing Monday morning quarterback. Our police have a job that no one wants but everyone thinks they can do better. Unlike you or me, everything they do is put under a microscope and examined.

These men and women put on a badge every day and go out to protect the property and life of people they have never met, at great risk to their own lives. When they leave their wife or husband to go to work, it can be stressful for the family. When they walk up to a car, they never know what’s waiting for them. Imagine hearing on the news that an officer has been shot and knowing it could be your spouse, dad or mother.

Instead of complaining, how about walking up to the next officer you see, shaking their hand and saying thanks for your service. There may come a day you need their service, and even though you complained or judged them, they will still show up to help you. People with this kind of attitude and with the willingness to walk into danger to save a perfect stranger are hard to find.

Bob Crites

Symphony Guild doesn’t think ‘outside the box’

Recently, a member of the Midland Symphony Guild left an invitation with our school counselor at MISD to inspire young women at the seventh-grade level to become a Symphony Belle. Enticements such as the opportunity to make new friends, earn prestigious college recognition and contribute monetary support for MOSC provided a gorgeous experience that any young woman would love to be a part of.

The “real deal” is this. A Symphony Belle comes from a wealthy, two parent household. The mother of the belle must attend training, and if the mom completes all assigned activities, her daughter may be included in the festivities. Of course, pearls are a must and the traditional black dress is required.

And then there is the money. Seventh-graders pay a $50 fee for the privilege of being considered, while eighth-graders pay $275 hoping that they will be chosen. Once chosen, the belle spends the next four years of her life handing out programs, volunteering with various organizations such as Safe Place and exhibiting impeccable poise at each and every venue.

These programs are amazing, and I appreciate each humanitarian effort that has been chosen by the guild. This is what I don’t appreciate.

My students wear “coats of many colors.” They come from households that include extended family members, list an address that is most likely north of Loop 250 and Wall Street and have managed to learn to cope in an impossible situation. Their grades are excellent, and their contribution to the school is very much recognized and acknowledged. My students were discouraged from applying for the Symphony Belle program because they would not “fit in.” Our school counselor stopped announcing the invitation.

My students are fabulous, but the Symphony Guild doesn’t think they have the ability to contribute anything of merit to their prestigious organization. I disagree. But the guild will never think “out of the box.”

Clearly, the Symphony Guild has a certain criteria and agenda that does not include students who attend an MISD school, unless of course their parent is a part of the party.

Until you open your heart, keep your invitations private.

Mary Dowdle

Residents fortunate to have dedicated officers

Thank you, Midland police and sheriff’s office personnel for your efforts after our burglary. Midland and Odessa residents are fortunate to experience the dedication and professional attributes of our local officers.

May God bless each and every one.

Judy Roberts

Permian Basin has little regard for excellence

I have lived in West Texas more than 12 years, and I love music. The production of “Brahm’s Requieum” on April 26 was superb. But even though it was free, it was very poorly attended.

It is a shame that people in the Permian Basin have so little regard for excellence. I do hope that the conductor, Gregory Pysh, does not become discouraged and go elsewhere.

Marianne Woods

State leaders should stand with teachers

I am writing on behalf of my colleagues -- Pastors Mike Hunter, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Keith Gibbons, Church on the Journey, both of Midland; Joe Weaks, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Andrew Arp, First Church of the Nazarene, Greg Morris, Bethany Christian Church, and the Rev. Donita Lea, all of Odessa.

We are proud of the dedicated and faith-filled people working in our public school systems in the Permian Basin. So, we were surprised at the language and legislation coming from some of the most powerful people in our state. It attacks neighborhood and community schools and the dedicated, faithful educators who shape our children.

Members of our families and many of our congregation members work in Texas’ public schools, and our children and grandchildren attend them. We are certain they take God with them.

Furthermore, the Texas Senate recently passed Senate Bill 4, providing tuition tax credits to donors giving scholarships to private schools. These are private school vouchers that use public tax money to support private, and often religious, institutions. Of course this violates the separation of church and state. It also takes dollars away from our public schools, which are still reeling from unprecedented budget cuts in 2011 that have yet to be restored despite our state’s abundant economy, making our per-pupil-spending and teacher salaries among the bottom in the nation.

And while we pay them less, and our public leaders call them “Godless,” our public school staff and teachers work prayerfully every day to make sure each child in Texas has a healthy and loving environment in which to learn. Thank you, teachers.

We stand with every classroom in the Permian Basin, and we believe that God does, too. We pray our state’s leadership will do the same.

The Rev. Dawn Darwin Weaks

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Odessa

City not out of drought

The “When to Water” article in the May 7 Reporter-Telegram was well intended along with the underlying Lake Thomas article. Both articles emphasized the improved surface water available, which left the impression that watering restrictions might be relaxed or lifted in Midland-Odessa. A quotation from the “When to Water” article stated, “The wet weather is helping to ease the drought conditions West Texas has endured since 2011.” The current Midland watering restriction schedules were buried on page 4A. Existing Midland watering restrictions only permit watering for even numbered addresses on Wednesday and Saturday from 6 p.m. until midnight. Odd numbered addresses can only water on Tuesday and Friday for the same hours.

Midland’s 2015 precipitation total is over 3 inches above average, yet the drought remains. We are only 5 months into 2015, with no guarantee that our rainfall will exceed the average precipitation of 14.6”. From 2011 through 2014, Midland only averaged 8.61” of rain per year (National Weather Service http://www.srh.noaa.gov/maf/?n=cli_maf_pcpn_annual). It can take several years of rain in excess of 14.6” a year to bring deep soil moisture to satisfactory levels and reduce the summer time heavy draw down of our subsurface aquifers.

Maintaining our current green-grass-at-any-cost thinking, results in withdrawal from subsurface reservoirs exceeding recharge rates. In continuing to do so, we are “water mining.” In a semi-arid climate, “water mining” is self-centered and irresponsible, failing to ensure sufficient water for our children’s children. Restriction of private water well pumping is needed as well.